Cape Town road upgrades delayed by construction cartel
The City of Cape Town is tightening the screws on the construction mafia who employ tactics such as extortion, violence, intimidation and disruption to advance their objectives.
Construction mafia in Cape Town has delayed a R 400 million road upgrade in Cape Town.
The widening of A Z Berman Drive in Cape Town for the MyCiTi bus service expansion into Mitchells Plain halted since February 28 due to contractors being forced off-site by extortion groups.
CITY OF CAPE TOWN UPGRADES
The City of Cape Town is in the process of road expansion for the MYCITI bus services.
The expansion of the road project was intended to improve public transport in the area and provide low-income households with affordable and reliable transport to work, schools, and other destinations.
The mayoral committee member of urban mobility, Rob Quintas told eNCA, “What has happened is that for the past week or so we have had ongoing disruptions at sites to the point where contractors have left the site as well, due to the presence and engagement coming from one of the local development forums and members thereof.”
The interaction with the construction mafia has left the contractors feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and harassed.
The City of Cape Town approached the courts for an interdict against the construction mafia.
CONSTRUCTION MAFIAS UNLEASH CHAOS IN CAPE TOWN
South Africa’s construction industry has been grappling with a significant challenge in recent years the encroachment of criminal elements in the form of construction mafias.
Daily Maverick reports that these illegal networks emerged in KwaZulu-Natal around ten years ago, spreading nationwide, causing loss of life and economic harm.
Construction mafias employ tactics such as extortion, violence, intimidation and disruption to advance their objectives.
According TopAuto to stats Between January 2023 and February 2024, 96 incidents of attempted extortion of ongoing construction projects by mafia-style groups were reported in Cape Town, with many of these jobs being delayed or completely grounding to a halt.
In extreme cases, the city has even been forced to accommodate municipal employees in safe houses to ensure they remain unharmed by these criminals.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said that from April 2023 to date, over 61 suspects linked to construction mafias around the country had been arrested. Over the past four years, 27 people were convicted for this crime and collectively sentenced to 43 years of imprisonment. reported